Sixers unsure of extent of Simmons’ back injury

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons left Saturday night’s home game against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter with back tightness and didn’t return.

The extent of the injury wasn’t immediately known after the game, but Philly.com reported that the team is expected to provide an update on Simmons on Monday. The 76ers’ next game is Tuesday night in Detroit.

Coach Brett Brown said after the game that he didn’t think Simmons had been given an MRI.

“I was told that his back was sore before the game, and they had manipulated it, just for me to be aware of it so I wasn’t surprised,” Brown said.

Simmons, last season’s Rookie of the Year, played eight minutes, getting four points and four assists.

He played 43 and 34 minutes in the 76ers’ first two games of the season, a loss in Boston on Tuesday and a home win against Chicago on Thursday.

Against the Bulls, he put up a triple-double, with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

“I don’t believe it’s serious,” Brown told reporters when asked about Simmons’ injury. “I would say it sways more on precautionary, but I’m just giving my opinion without any information from our doctors. I thought he played OK, but it was clear that something was going on.”

Simmons, 22, the first overall selection of the 2016 draft by the 76ers, sat out a season before taking the court last season, averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds in 33.7 minutes as Philadelphia made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals before losing to the Celtics.